Chicken Bone Broth Recipe & Benefits
Bone broth is the "in" thing right now. Everyone’s doing it, and here’s why you should, too! Besides the fact that it’s easy to make, tastes delicious and is filling, it has many health benefits!
Bone broth is rich in minerals that support the immune system and has healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline. The collagen in bone broth also promotes gut health! It heals your gut lining and reduces inflammation in your intestines! It can also improve your joint health, reduce cellulite and promote healthy skin.
Ever wonder why people go for chicken noodle soup or chicken broth when they are sick? Well, the University of Nebraska Medical Centered wondered that, too. They found that the broth contains amino acids that are produced while making the stock, which reduces inflammation in the respiratory system and improves digestion. It can also boost the immune system and heal issues like allergies, asthma and arthritis.
Something that we are trying to work on is reduce the amount of wasted food in our house. I feel bad when we end up having to toss a 1/2 of an onion we didn’t use or parts of celery that didn’t fit in the recipe. Making broth is a great solution to food waste, whether you prefer vegetable broth or bone broth. When you are done chopping your veggies, throw the scraps or leftovers into the pot with water, add chicken bones and allow it to simmer for hours.
Bone broth offers protein, collagen and nutrients that support digestive functions and benefits you from your toes to your brain and your muscles to your ligaments. The collagen which helps form connective tissue, is wonderful for your hair, skin and nails.
My mom said that her parents (my Yiayia and Papou) would keep a stock pot going all the time. They would constantly be adding veggies and chicken bones to it and keep it going for days on end.
There is no real recipe for the right bone broth since we all have different preferences of flavor. Here’s what I like to do: When we purchase a rotisserie chicken, we throw the bones and sometimes a little of the meat in a big stock pot with water. If we have any leftover onions or parts of an onion, we throw that in there too. I cook it all day long on medium heat to allow it to simmer.
Sometimes, I will even allow the pot to cool, put the whole thing in my fridge and the next day put it back on the stove to cook for the next day. I don’t like to leave it on all night like some people do. I will cook it for a few days sometimes.
When I am ready to drink some, I use my Vita Mix and use a small, thin mesh strainer to catch any of the bones or veggies from going into the blender. I squeeze a whole lemon in it, add a clove of garlic or garlic powder, black pepper, turmeric from Simply Organic and occasionally a little sea salt.
It’s so filling and cozy to drink on a cold day. I drink it just about every day, if not every other day. Don’t worry if you feel like you cannot drink it all quickly. Delicious Living's infographic below recommends you store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can purchase smaller containers to store the broth in individual serving sized. Pop them in the freezer to keep them fresh longer. When you are ready for some broth, remove it from the freezer, allow to thaw a little bit and then heat it up on the stove. You could also store it in a larger container or ziplock bag and use the stock to make a delicious homemade soup. It will be so jam-packed with flavor from the broth you will never use store bought broth again!
Here's a great visual that shows you exactly what to do and how to do it! Making bone broth is that simple.
